A dozen more shoved forward and stood near him, the crowd moving back, Sanderson sensed the movement and stood erect, leaving Owen still on the floor.

One look at the hostile faces around him convinced Sanderson that the men were there by design.
He grinned mirthlessly into the face of the man with the drawn pistol.
"Frame-up, eh ?" he said.

"What's the game ?" "You're wanted for drawin' a gun on Dave Silverthorn--in his office.
I'm a deputy sheriff, an' I've got a warrant for you.

Want to see it ?" Sanderson did not answer.

Here was a manifestation of Dale's power and cupidity.
The charge was a mere subterfuge, designed to deprive him of his liberty.